The Emirates Telecommunication Corporation - Etisalat signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sudan Company “Unity”, in order to launch its training programs including the easyLearning program in the Sudan.

Mohammad Hassan Omran, CEO, Etisalat and Abdullah Al Fadel, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Unity, signed the memorandum in the presence of Dr. Doaa Fares, General Manager of Etisalat Academy, as well as training and program directors, and the Heads of the Academy departments in Sudan’s capital, Al Khartoum.

Unity is one of the investment partners of Kanartel, the company that provides telecommunication services in Sudan.

According to the memorandum, Unity will handle the equipment of the training centre and the implementation of the marketing plan, whereas the Academy will carry out the training programs for different companies from both public and private sector.

Additionally, Unity has been chosen to represent the Academy in its efforts towards spreading the easyLearning program launched by the Group 77 of the United Nations. The Etisalat Academy is implementing this program exclusively in the Gulf and the Middle East regions.

Speaking after the MoU signing, Mr. Omran said: “Signing this memorandum comes along with the Sudan unity witnessed between its north and south regions, and both now opens the opportunity to prepare and train people for later employment. In addition, this initiative aims at developing the employees’ skills in both public and private sectors.

The memorandum also reflects the Academy’s high level of training and excellent reputation in the region, as well as its effective contribution in training and preparing cadres for many governmental institutions and private companies within the UAE and abroad, through its unique programs that fulfill the increasing demands at the workplace.”

Abdullah Al Fadel, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Unity, said: “The signing of the MoU comes in a developing phase witnessed at the Republic of Sudan. This progress requires building a strong professional workforce in different fields in order to face the challenges that may occur”.

Al Fadel praised Etisalat’s distinguished position represented by the Academy in supporting the knowledge and culture in the society as well as its initiatives in rehabilitating and training working cadres.

Dr. Doaa Fares, General Manager of the Etisalat Academy, said: “Etisalat Academy was fulfilling an important role in bridging the gap between in knowledge and experience, between the labour market and the universities.”

He added: “The Academy was chosen as a regional representative for a number of international educational institutions from the US and Europe. It has also been accredited as the first regional centre in the Middle East to examine IT experts and engineers hoping to receive international accredited certification.”

He noted that choosing the Academy to implement the E-learning project adopted by the Group of 77 reflects the high standard of the educational and training qualifications the Academy has.

The United Nations has placed huge significance on this initiative to spread e-learning throughout the developing countries, including the MENA region. The first phase of the project, which includes 600 training sessions, was finalised and approved by international institutes.